- Region
- Europe
- Origin
- Europe, western Asia, and North Africa; Hypericum perforatum
Europe · Herb · № 43
Hypericum perforatum
Herb · Europe
St. John's wort
Hypericum perforatum
Research suggests it may help mild to moderate depression; evidence for other uses is insufficient.
Safety notes
It can interact in dangerous, sometimes life-threatening ways with many medicines, including birth control pills, antidepressants, and blood thinners. It can make skin sensitive to sunlight.
Cautions by tradition (4)
- Herbal medicine worldwide: Consult a professional if taking medication.
- Western herbalism: Beware of interactions with medicines (including the pill), makes skin sensitive to light.
- Herbs for viral infections: Not with the pill, blood thinners or cancer medicines. Serious illnesses such as infections, cancer or hepatitis need a doctor: there is no evidence that this remedy cures them.
- Haudenosaunee (Iroquois) medicine: Interacts with many medicines, including the pill; makes you sensitive to sunlight.
Preparation
Flowering tops are prepared as tea, extract, or oil. Do not use it for low mood without talking to a doctor.
Use in traditions
Used in Greek, Islamic, and Chinese medical traditions for low mood, stomach ulcers, colds, and wound healing, among other things. The name refers to John the Baptist: the plant flowers around St. John's Day in late June.
Applications
Use by tradition
How different herbal traditions describe this herb. Amounts are traditional guidelines checked for obvious errors; they are not medical advice. For poisonous plants no dosage is given on purpose.
Herbal medicine worldwide
Attributed effects
Astringent, pain-relieving, anti-inflammatory, calming, restorative nerve tonic.
Preparation and amount
Tea for depression, anxiety, menopausal and PMS complaints; tincture for at least 2 months for long-term tension and exhaustion; 5–10 drops in the evening for bedwetting; wash on wounds; St John's wort oil on burns, joint inflammation, nerve pain and sciatica; cream for nerve pain and sprains.
Caution: Consult a professional if taking medication.
Western herbalism
Attributed effects
Cleansing, astringent, diuretic, strengthens the nerves, wound-healing; for nerve pain (sciatica, neuralgia), strengthens the organs of elimination, heals dirty and festering wounds, lifts low mood.
Preparation and amount
Tea: 1–2 tsp per cup, 10–12 min, 1–2 cups a day; tincture 1 dropperful 3 times a day; herbal oil externally 1–3 times a day.
Caution: Beware of interactions with medicines (including the pill), makes skin sensitive to light.
Herbs for viral infections
Attributed effects
Antiviral (hypericin, hyperforin, flavonoids); especially for hepatitis B and herpes; further for depression and anxiety disorders; makes the skin sensitive to sunlight.
Preparation and amount
Tablets, liquid extract or tea (1–2 tsp herb with boiling water); standard 300 mg 3 times a day.
Caution: Not with the pill, blood thinners or cancer medicines. Serious illnesses such as infections, cancer or hepatitis need a doctor: there is no evidence that this remedy cures them.
Haudenosaunee (Iroquois) medicine
Attributed effects
Against infertility and for fever.
Preparation and amount
Boil a few roots along with a blood medicine.
Caution: Interacts with many medicines, including the pill; makes you sensitive to sunlight.
Folklore and herbal magic
Symbolic meanings from folk use and modern herbal magic. These are handed-down associations, not effects.
Courage, power of the sun, fertility, purification, healing, positive energy.
- Ways to prepare herbs
- Tea (infusion)TinctureHerbal oil (oil infusion)Salve and balm